Predominantly black school named after Confederate president renamed to honour Barack Obama
The student population is 98 per cent black
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A predominantly black elementary school named after the president of the Confederacy will change its name to honour former President Barack Obama.
The decision to rename the school in Jackson, Mississippi comes as areas in the South engage in heated debates over tributes to Confederate leaders. Critics of the school names and statues say they are accolades to the region's racist past, while supporters assert they represent history and should be preserved.
For months, parents of students at Davis IB Elementary School, named after Jefferson Davis, fought to rid the school of its Confederate reference in favour of celebrating America's first black president, according to Newsweek.
Janelle Jefferson, president of the school's Parent Teacher Association, said the new name will be more fitting for a school with a student population that is 98 per cent black.
“Jefferson Davis, although infamous in his own right, would probably not be too happy about a diverse school promoting the education of the very individuals he fought to keep enslaved being named after him,” Ms Jefferson said in a statement, according to The Clarion Ledger, a local paper.
The school's new name, Barack Obama Magnet IB, will now “reflect a person who fully represents ideals and public stances consistent with what we want our children to believe about themselves,” she added.
The name change will take effect during the next school year, Newsweek reported.
Earlier this year, Donald Trump ignited controversy when he compared the removal of Confederate General Robert E Lee's statue to one of George Washington – three days after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville erupted into deadly violence.
White nationalist demonstrators descended on the Virginia city in August to protest the removal of Mr Lee's statue. The rally, met by counter-protests, quickly became violent – prompting the governor to declare a ‘state of emergency’.
“George Washington was a slave owner. Are we gonna take down statues of George Washington?” Mr Trump said a few days after the incident. “You're changing history, you're changing culture...you had many people in that group other than neo-Nazis and white nationalists. And the press has treated them absolutely unfairly.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments